via Janes.
The US Navy (USN) is to begin negotiations with Sikorsky for the low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter, the service disclosed on 8 January.My take on this?
According to a notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website, Lots 1 and 2 will be negotiated for two and four LRIP helicopters respectively. The intended contract will be initially issued as an Advance Acquisition Contract (AAC) in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for long-lead items in support of the subsequent production buys.
The announcement of the imminent commencement of LRIP negotiations follows the official roll-out of the CH-53K in May 2014. The operational evaluation (OPEVAL) phase of the programme is expected to begin in early-2017, with the first of an expected 200 production helicopters due to be delivered to the US Marine Corps (USMC) from about 2019.
The Marine Corps is working hard to clear the trainwreck that the F-35 caused/is causing and yet programs that are must have need to be walled off and protected.
The CH-53K just got anointed as a favored son.
What is still left on the table? Almost every ground combat weapon system/vehicle.
Consider. HQMC has pushed the Navy to put into service ships that its having to figure out how to use everyday in the fleet (JHSV, MLP and AFSB)...has an airplane that is set to deliver much less than promised, is expensive and is looking like a maintenance hog (F-35)...has cut Tanks, Artillery and Infantry Battalions to the bone...and has left the one vehicle that is Marine Corps specific to languish (AAV replacement).
The -53s are actually crucial for USMC logistic ops, as are the -47s for the Army. The Army finds the money for their vertical lift, while the Marines waste it on insanely expensive STOIVL tactical fighters and medium lift fantasy machines that could easily - and more affordably - be replaced by traditional helicopters.
ReplyDeletewell there is only one vehicle in the USMC that is service specific. the AAV. everything else can be bought by piggybacking off USN or US Army purchases.
Deleteif this is what an independent USMC looks like then the idea needs to be shelved and we need to fall back in under the Navy. as it is we're becoming too expensive to exist. better to make a US Army division amphibious specialist than to continue on like this. rant off.
Hope this program does well.
ReplyDelete